To describe a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of “blister-like” aneurysms of the distal internal carotid artery (ICA). Direct surgical treatments of these fragile lesions have been associated with generally poor outcomes.

Two consecutive patients presenting with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage from “blister-like” aneurysms were treated with preliminary balloon occlusion of the ICA, followed by surgical trapping of the ICA beyond the aneurysm.

The treatment resulted in complete thrombosis of both aneurysms with no clinical complications.

This combined endovascular-neurosurgical approach offers a controlled, safer alternative to primary surgical therapy of “blister-like” aneurysms.

Carotid angioplasty and stenting is gaining popularity as an alternative to carotid endarterectomy for the treatment of carotid bifurcation stenosis. The major concern with the procedure is the risk of embolic stroke which may be initiated by balloon angioplasty of friable atherosclerotic plaque. Elimination of angioplasty may result in a lower incidence of embolic complications.

We describe a case in which a self-expanding stent alone, without balloon angioplasty, was used to successfully dilate an atherosclerotic stenosis of the carotid bifurcation.

A moderate increase in vessel diameter, from 75% to 50%, was immediately observed after stent placement alone. No embolic complications were observed and follow-up plain film and ultrasound examinations showed progressive stent enlargement with excellent anatomic and hemodynamic results.

In this case of severe carotid stenosis, the use of a self-expanding stent alone, without balloon angioplasty, resulted in excellent anatomic and hemodynamic improvement.